Mart Laar blog

Yesterday died in Tallinn internationally most known Estonian writer Jaan Kross. Jaan Kross was born 19.02.1920 together with independent Estonian Republic. He belonged to the promising generation, which was born and educated in independent Estonia. The hopes and dreams of this generation were unfortunately destroyed on 23.August 1939, when two totalitarian dictatorships – nazi Germany and communist Russia signed Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, starting the Second World War and dividing World between themselves. In 1940 was Estonia occupied by the Soviet Union and times of terror started. As other members of its generation Kross joined resistance movement against both dictatorships. In 1944 was Kross arrested by SD and when attempt to restore the independence was crushed and Soviets returned, Kross was arrested again – for the same reason as in nazi times – restoration attempt of Estonian independence. Kross had to spend several years in GULAG. When after the death of Stalin prisoners were released, Kross returned to Estonia and made its debute in literature. At the beginning there were poems, then plays and then novels. Kross studied first Estonian history, describing hard choices between resistance and will to live. His work helped to keep national spirit during most difficult times of Soviet repressions. After the restoration of Estonian independence, Kross turned in several novels to the fate of its generation between nazi and communist dictatorships. At the same time his novels became internationally more and more known, translated and recognized. Kross was several times presented to the Nobel Prize of literature, but unfortunately never got it. For some people in West Kross has not been most comfortable figure. His works remembered too well that there is actually no difference between nazi and communist crimes and it was and is necessary to fight against both evils, keeping human identity alive. Jaan Kross is dead, but his work is living on.